As we mentioned in previous articles, conventional medicine plays an important role and most of the time it is the first treatment for a couple who for whatever reason cannot conceive after 1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse. The immune system plays an important role in protecting our body against the forming of free radicals, bacteria, and virus. But for whatever reasons, sometimes the immune system attacks sperm in the women's reproductive organs or sperm in the testes in men, leading to infertility. In this article, we will discuss how immune dysfunction affects fertility in a conventional perspective.

1. DefinitionThe immune system helps to recognize foreign invasion such as the forming of free radicals, bacteria, and viruses in order to destroy them. For some reason immune systems may become abnormal, leading the immune system to attach it's own body tissues or view the sperm as foreign invasion.

2. Types of immune dysfunction effecting infertility

a) Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome is defined as a condition which causes blood clotting in the arteries or veins and various other problems. It also causes abnormal production of antibody which not only attaches to the body's invaders, but also it's body tissues including sperm in the testes which lead to a low quality of sperm.As of today, there is still no cure for the above syndrome, but some conventional medications can help to control it, thereby reducing the risk of blood clotting and infertility.

b) Antinuclear antibody (ANA)

Antinuclear antibodies are a specific class of auto antibodies which have the ability to attack structures in the nucleus of cells instead of performing the normal antibody function. Since the nucleus of a cell contains genetic material referred to as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), ANA (antinuclear antibody) tests can be performed on a patient's blood sample as part of the diagnostic process to detect certain autoimmune diseases caused by the above.

c) Antithyroid antibodies

Antithyroid antibodies can be tested by diagnosing the patient's thyroid hormone and the thyroid stimulating hormone TSH in the blood sample. Only hypothyroidism causes auto immune dysfunction. They are defined as the abnormal functioning of antibodies produced by the immune system to act directly against the thyroid gland. It may be caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland leading to abnormal production of certain antithyroid antibodies such as antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal that cause miscarriage by attacking the placental or fetal tissues.

d) Anti-sperm antibody

Antisperm antibody can be produced by either partner. It is defined as a certain class of protein attaching themselves to the sperm, causing other cells in the immune system to attack them, leading to low quality sperm in men and effecting the ability of sperm to fertilize the egg in women.

By Kyle J. Norton Health Article Writer

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Author:Kyle J. Norton Health Article Writer

Biography: I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries. Part time Health and entertainment Article Writer.

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